Mumble Street Stories

Warm evenings are spent on the front porch talking with my husband, trying to get privacy from two little girls who aren't yet asleep. We talk about my diagnosis, treatment options and what my body will look like after all of the surgeries. My husband tells me anything is better than a gravestone. I listen to my neighbors laugh and wonder when that will be us again.

You can’t tell by looking at me that I have breast cancer. I am young and healthy, have no symptoms or lumps. I am not “at risk.” Medical literature said I could wait a few years before getting a mammogram. Fortunately, I decided to get one now.

That mammogram lead to an early diagnosis and saved my life. Unfortunately, my cancer has a risk of recurrence and is so widespread on the right side, I am saying goodbye to my 34 DDs.

I guess I am lucky because I don’t need chemo or radiation, and, most importantly, I get to live. Right now though, I am scared, angry and incredibly sad. I am trying to show my girls how to be brave and not ask, “Why me?” too many times. It’s hard though because I want off of this roller coaster ride more than anything. Since I don’t get that choice, I am holding on tight and relying on my friends and family. I’ll get through this, and I hear I will be stronger in the end. Right now though, this is tough.

“I was the one who was bed ridden for 5 years. And who flies helicopters (I did). Lost 132 pounds. I have walked 12 Marathons, 4 with a broken heel. I have walked almost 1200 miles this year. I am 73 years old.”

“I am someone who likes to play on the beach, ride my bike, and have wholehearted connections with family and friends, but am probably, more than anything, pretty serious about the Big Things in the World. Even the playful things I do always bring me this incredible perspective – being at the edge of the seemingly endless ocean, being at the top of rolling hills with amazing views in the distance, being in heartfelt conversations about life and the world. It always sounds trite to say it, but I am someone who has always wanted to make the world a better place — in our natural environment, in our human communities, and in the way I raise my family. The news will tell you the world is getting worse. Climate change is altering our planet and violence seems to be everywhere. If you look carefully, however, you will also find people making peace, building community, healing our world, reaching out to each other, and giving voice to the people and places in our world that have not had a voice. (I’ve always loved Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! because he is dedicated, protective, courageous and persistent in trying to be a voice for those that cannot be heard.) There are so many great peacemakers, community builders, and healers in our history, and so many more unknown people who just try to make big and small contributions everyday. Within all those efforts is where I find hope for our world and a sense of who I am and who I strive to be. ”

A person. An individual hair in the rope of “human body”. An excitable spaz who loves to silly with whoever will join me.

I am an analyst - someone who will think on something until its original shape has disintegrated;an arthead - my most important thoughts are translated best through visual (usually 3-dimensional) interpretations; a people person - I do not mean I love all people, all the time. I mean, the most impactful lessons I have ever learned were through achieving a better understanding of someone else. If I’m certain of one thing, it is that people need each other.

“I am an irish girl, a word lover, an accidental mother, an obvious skeptic, a dreamy malcontent, an inappropriate storyteller, a children’s advocate, a novice expert, a pug person, a melancholy optimist, a whiskey drinker, a hiding ostrich, a volunteer addict, a debatable insomniac, a part-time extrovert, a wanna be poet, a vegetarian, a dancer with disappointment, an atheist, a feminist, a pacifist, a socialist, a coffee guzzler, the familial black-sheep, a treasure hunter, an anxious party guest, a mad shadow-animal maker, not a hugger, an uncomfortable receiver and a piscean fish always waiting for rain.”